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Sabai-dee?! That's how to say greetings in Laos. I am learning to speak the local dialect.
Well, if you haven't been to this area in Esan, you don't know what you are missing! The road connection runs along the River to the North and down to the East. It's a very picturesque route.

Sabai dee khrap. Yeah I heard Lao and Thai are very similar.

Next time I'm in north Thailand I'll definitely ask my friend in Chiang Rai if he wants to take a trip with me to Esan. He's been there many times.

One of my students here in Japan is a farmer and actually went to Thailand a couple of years ago to study some farming techniques. So I'll be following your blog to let her know of anything you post that might be of interest to her.

Hi @kendewitt. Just got back to BKK, and has been greeted by a rainy storm now. Traffic jam!
I am not planting rice, just various friut trees and local herbs for consumption. It is difficult to make money from self-sufficiency, I am just contented to be with nature and do my gardening.